Does it really bother anyone else how in the later seasons of FOL Jo was suddenly this very skilled and talented pianist?

This is probably the "character" thing in the series that really gets to me the most. Never before season 6's premiere episode was Jo ever mentioned as playing piano. And even in the discussions of Jo's financial difficulties with her parents, it was never brought up that, "Hey, maybe you could play piano in a nice restaurant for a salary, or play parties and events for tips."

I'm currently watching the entire series of FOL, and when I was watching this episode, I was keeping an eye out for who wrote Jo being a pianist---and I couldn't believe it was Linda Marsh and Margie Peters! Two long-time producers and writers of the show who really knew these girls, wrote so many terrific episodes, and here they are writing, IMO, such a hopelessly contrived detail into a character. Yes they tried to explain how she learned the piano, but for that kind of skill level you would certainly need a good deal of practice regularly (unless you were a rare virtuoso or child prodigy). There are other things they could have written about for that episode to show Jo doing "the last thing you'd expect to see Jo doing", but this just seems like such an unrealistic stretch to me.

And while we're on the subject of pianos, why on earth did they go to the trouble to include a piano on the set of the common room in season 1, but no one ever played it?? In a dorm full of girls, even if only 7, surely at least 1 of them had taken piano lessons...

That's true.

Yeah that's true. I thought that maybe it was something she could always do, but she didn't want anyone to know; she probably trusted Mrs. Garrett enough to do it in front of her (which failed anyway since it was shared with everyone lol). But even that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, unless we're supposed to assume that she practiced off-camera, when everyone else was gone or something. Speaking of which, they had a piano during the Beverly Ann years, yet Jo never was seen playing it...only her dad did once.

Speaking of that, it's not really established that Jo could sing until the Cruising episode.

Actually she sang in the same episode she played the piano, Summer of '84. I feel like maybe they did these things because Nancy had the talents and they wanted to be able to show them off or something...

Oops...this is frodnew6...I logged in wrong lol

Actually she sang in the same episode she played the piano, Summer of '84. I feel like maybe they did these things because Nancy had the talents and they wanted to be able to show them off or something...

Oh, okay. I didn't realize the piano episode came before Cruising.

Speaking of that, it's not really established that Jo could sing until the Cruising episode.

Jo attempted to sing. She could not sing.

Hey guys: don't you remember how JO played piano on the 'Christmas in the big house' episode? (i know that was afterwards, but still)....

But yes you are right: the writers kept giving her weird hobbies, such as 'Ball room dancing' classes too (by season 7) remember????

Hey guys: don't you remember how JO played piano on the 'Christmas in the big house' episode? (i know that was afterwards, but still)....

But yes you are right: the writers kept giving her weird hobbies, such as 'Ball room dancing' classes too (by season 7) remember????

Yes. Jo should never have played piano, sang, or ball room danced. That wasn't Jo. I think Nancy McKeon asked the producers to showcase her piano playing, and the worked it into the scripts, but Jo playing piano should never have happened. It was a reboot of the character. I have no problem with them wanting to soften Jo's image, but not with the piano playing or ballroom dancing.

Yes. Jo should never have played piano, sang, or ball room danced. That wasn't Jo. I think Nancy McKeon asked the producers to showcase her piano playing, and the worked it into the scripts, but Jo playing piano should never have happened. It was a reboot of the character. I have no problem with them wanting to soften Jo's image, but not with the piano playing or ballroom dancing.


Even BLAIR said to JO: "are you're trying to confuse me? (on the episode 'Ballroom dancing'):lol::lol::lol:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Yes they tried to explain how she learned the piano, but for that kind of skill level you would certainly need a good deal of practice regularly...

80s, did they try to explain in Summer of 84? If she played before, why didn’t they put her as the piano player in S3 in Green Eyed Monster....

I always wondered if Nancy really could play. Or is was just a hey let’s put this random fact in.

ALSO, why wouldn’t they mention or show her hobby when she started to date then MARRY a professional piano player!

80s, did they try to explain in Summer of 84? If she played before, why didn’t they put her as the piano player in S3 in Green Eyed Monster....

I always wondered if Nancy really could play. Or is was just a hey let’s put this random fact in.

ALSO, why wouldn’t they mention or show her hobby when she started to date then MARRY a professional piano player!

The explanation on the show was that Jo kept her piano playing skills a secret which an really odd explanation considering that Eastland would have musical arts. Made no sense at all.

As for where Nancy M. played the piano, this photo should answer that question.
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/television-actors-and-reallife-siblings-nancy-and-philip-mckeon-picture-id637805874

Maybe she just dabbled? I wish they asked that burning question one she podcast she did.

Did Nancy actually play the piano and sing?

Did Nancy actually play the piano and sing?

Yes she did. One thing she did OK with. The other, not so much.

Yes she did. One thing she did OK with. The other, not so much.

Thanks.

Did Nancy actually play the piano and sing?

Here is the episode. Nancy M. is "singing" and playing the piano anear of the show. Judge for yourself about her piano skills and "singing" skills.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54iiov

On a side note, this is the episode where they met Mackenzie Astin, the son of John. They would soon make him the first regular male child cast member of the show.

Nancy (Jo) could not sing. Her voice was awful. And Nancy may play the piano in real life, but I doubt it was her playing in Summer of ‘84, because they never showed her hands (and they usually show hands if the actor is actually playing). If she’s an amateur, they’re not going to take the chance of her making mistakes when taping. Easier and safer to use a professional off camera.

Here is the episode. Nancy M. is "singing" and playing the piano anear of the show. Judge for yourself about her piano skills and "singing" skills.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54iiov

On a side note, this is the episode where they met Mackenzie Astin, the son of John. They would soon make him the first regular male child cast member of the show.

Thanks. I'll have to let you know what I think of it when I'm done watching it.

Nancy (Jo) could not sing. Her voice was awful. And Nancy may play the piano in real life, but I doubt it was her playing in Summer of ‘84, because they never showed her hands (and they usually show hands if the actor is actually playing). If she’s an amateur, they’re not going to take the chance of her making mistakes when taping. Easier and safer to use a professional off camera.

A good example of this is in the episode of Night Court called Not My Type, where they show Markie Post's hands and she's actually playing it.

Another example (but I'm not sure about this one) is in a Home Improvement episode called Jill's Surprise Party, where they show Patricia Richardson at the beginning playing the piano.

They do show a closeup of her hands, but am not really sure if she’s playing it or not.

Nancy (Jo) could not sing. Her voice was awful. And Nancy may play the piano in real life, but I doubt it was her playing in Summer of ‘84, because they never showed her hands (and they usually show hands if the actor is actually playing). If she’s an amateur, they’re not going to take the chance of her making mistakes when taping. Easier and safer to use a professional off camera.


I quite like JO's voice on the few times she sang on FOL, although i have to admit that BLAIR had a much nicer voice....:D:D:D

:guitar::guitar::guitar:

I quite like JO's voice on the few times she sang on FOL, although i have to admit that BLAIR had a much nicer voice....:D:D:D

:guitar::guitar::guitar:

Yes Blair does have a nice voice. Lisa's 70's Mousketeer days really helped her polish up her vocal abilities.

Actually she sang in the same episode she played the piano, Summer of '84. I feel like maybe they did these things because Nancy had the talents and they wanted to be able to show them off or something...

You can't mean talent for singing. Her singing stunk.

I quite like JO's voice on the few times she sang on FOL, although i have to admit that BLAIR had a much nicer voice....:D:D:D

:guitar::guitar::guitar:

Lisa did have out an album and it got a Grammy nomination so she can sing.